Tyler’s newborn photos in Nashville, TN

Who doesn’t love babies? Tyler was no exception with his perfect little fingers and toes! Newborn photo session are often really challenging but so worth the patience and work it can take to get the perfect photo.
There is lots of preparation to getting ready for newborn sessions. From looking for unique props, setting up equipment, loading up my car, and planning out poses and ideas ahead of time I can assure you that your session isn’t viewed as “another session” just like your baby isn’t “just another newborn”. I prepare differently for each session and I hope it shows.

I do everything that I can to make mom, dad, and baby as comfortable as possible when I arrive, but there are also things that you can do as a parents beforehand to prepare for your newborn shoot in the Franklin, Nashville, Brentwood, and Spring Hill areas. I also travel so if you are located beyond my standard range contact me!

Tips for your newborn photography session
• Newborn portraits are unique in that they can’t be scheduled months out, and often I’m booked out months, and even a year in advance but if you let me know within a few months of your due date I will build time into my schedule around that timeframe for your session.
• Call me soon after you deliver so you can arrange a time for the session. Ideally the session should take place within 5-14 days after birth. Infants older than two weeks tend to be much more difficult to photograph as they are more fussy and resistant to coaxing into positions.
• If the session will be taking place at your home – do not worry about the state of your house. You just had a baby. I do not care if dishes are piled up the sink and clothes basket runs over!
• Make sure your baby’s diaper isn’t too tight or diaper marks around the legs and waist may show in the photos.
• Have your house warm. Ideally, you’ll want the thermostat set around 80-85. For the adults it will be hot, but the baby will be warm and happy.
• Collect any items you want used in the session beforehand – family heirlooms, toys, monogrammed blankets, etc. I’ll go through these with you to determine what will look best in the pictures.
• If you’d like pictures taken of the baby in the nursery, be sure all the curtains and shades are open to let in lots of natural light. No need to clean, but just try and make sure the clutter has found its way to a closet.
• Decide if you’d like pictures taken with your baby, or if want pictures of only the baby. Ahead of time many parents assume they’ll be too tired to get ready to be in photos but most change their minds once we start. Often just a simple neutral colored t-shirt is all the dressing up you’ll need for beautiful photos as a family. You’ll always be glad you did!
• Make sure the baby has a full belly before I arrive. Often we’ll take a quick break or two for a ‘snack’ as needed.
• After the baby is full, make sure they are burped well. Gas can take a sleepy, happy baby to an uncomfortable and irritable one in just a few moments.
• Be patient. If the baby gets fussy or alert, don’t stress out. A baby can sense your anxiety and we want to keep the environment as mellow as possible. We will try and get the baby comfortable again, but if that just doesn’t seem possible, we’ll take a break or we’ll work with what he’s giving us. Sometimes the best pictures are ones when the baby isn’t doing what we want.
• Be assured that if there is ever a point where you’re uncomfortable with the poses, simply let me know. Likewise, if you have ideas that you’d like to try please let me know! Often parent’s will email me with several images that they especially like or have a few examples ready on their computer when they arrive.

Natural Light Newborn Photography based in Franklin, TN

Newborn Photographer in Nashville, TN

[caption id="attachment_256" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Newborn photos in your home in Nashville, Franklin, Brentwood, and Spring Hill"]Newborn photos in your home in Nashville, Franklin, Brentwood, and Spring Hill[/caption]

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Jill and Ben’s Wedding in Murfreesboro, TN

I was privileged to take Jill and Ben’s wedding photos at Belle Aire Baptist Church in Murfreesboro, TN a town a short drive southeast of Nashville. This couple is a perfect example that if you are beautiful on the inside, you can’t help but be beautiful on the outside.

They remind me that my job as a photographer is not just shooting images but about people. A wedding is a sacred event filled with memories of the past, stories of the present, and promises of the future. The fact that I have the responsibility to capture the essence of life in images throughout the day is responsibility that I treasure, not a job that I punch a timeclock on. Seeing the joy and happy tears of families and friends coming together amid the hustle and bustle and sound of laugher and the brush of satin and tulle is always an honor.

Thank you to all of the brides and grooms and families that entrust me with capturing your day!

And best wishes to Ben and Jill!

Wedding photographer in Murfreesboro

Outdoor wedding portraits in Murfreesboro, TN

[caption id="attachment_247" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Creative wedding photos in Murfreesboro"]Belle Aire Baptist Church Wedding Photos[/caption]
Murfreesboro Wedding Photographer

Wedding Reception Photos

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Crystal and Gary’s Engagement Photos in Franklin

Crystal and Gary are a such a fun couple! We spent a great afternoon in downtown Franklin taking engagement photos at The Factory, one of my favorite places in the Nashville area for photo sessions.

Engagement photo sessions are available as part of your wedding package or as separate packages. Ask how you can get your session in the Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin, or Spring Hill area for free with select wedding packages!

Engagement photos in Franklin, Brentwood, Nashville, and Spring Hill

Crystal and Gary - Engaged

[caption id="attachment_241" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Engagement photos at the Factory in Franklin, TN"]Engagement photos in Franklin, Nashville, Brentwood, and Spring Hill[/caption]

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Food Photography with Dr. Josh Axe

Spending the day shooting food for Dr. Josh Axe’s upcoming cookbook was great fun! The best part was getting to sample everything after it was prepped and shot – 35 recipes later we were all tired, happy, and very full of food that was so tasty it seemed almost wrong for it to be so healthy!

Interested in making some of the recipes shown below before the cookbook is release? Check out:
The Blog of Dr. Josh Axe Videos on cooking raw and health.
Recipes at draxe.com Healthy recipes including many pictured below!

Commercial Photography

Commercial Food Photography

[caption id="attachment_235" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Cookbook Photoshoot"]Cookbook Photoshoot[/caption]

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Cookbook Cover for Dr. Josh Axe of Exodus Health

What a fun day! Recently I spent the day doing a food and headshot shoot for Dr. Josh Axe for his soon to be released cookbook! Shooting photos for cookbooks, book covers, and cd/dvd covers is a fun challenge and requires special attention to aspect ratio, lighting, and color balance as shooting for print uses a different color space than the way photo paper displays color.

Dr. Josh Axe, Nashville

Exodus Health Center, Nashville, TN


From their website: “Exodus Health Center is on a mission to bring you the latest health advice on topics such as: weight loss, heart disease, cancer, diabetes, hormone imbalance, depression, childhood disorders such as ADHD and autism, sports training, even the common cold.

Exodus Health Center focuses on setting people free from their current health conditions so they can live their lives to their fullest potential. Exodus Health Center also helps people gain victory in their health by offering solutions with cutting-edge structural corrective chiropractic care, diet, nutritional supplements, exercise and creating a customized health plan.”

Dr. Josh Axe, Exodus Health Center, Nashville, TN

Dr. Josh Axe, Exodus Health Center, Nashville, TN

Check back for photos of the food – and make sure you eat first, this healthy food is so yummy you may drool on your keyboard.

Interested in optimizing your health? Contact Dr. Josh at:
Exodus Health Center
15123 Old Hickory Blvd • Nashville, TN 37211
615.445.7701 Office • 615.445.7771 Fax
exodushealthcenter @ draxe.com

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It’s a Great Afternoon for Kid’s Photos in Franklin

I love spring and summer photoshoots, around Franklin and Nashville, everything is green and lush and kids love to get outside and play!

One of my favorite aspects of being a photographer is getting to be a small part of my client’s lives. Last year I did this little guy’s newborn photos, and seeing big sister becoming a little lady a year later was so much fun!

My husband Markus teamed up with me for this shoot to assist in lighting – using a combination of natural light with artfully placed studio lights give an incredible depth and perspective as well as beautifully saturated colors.

Oh…and if you see Markus ask him about what crazy jungle antics he did to get the little guy to smile…

Creative kids photos

Creative kids photos

[caption id="attachment_209" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Children\'s photos at Winstead Hill"]Creative outdoor children's photos[/caption]
Kid's outdoor photos

Kid's outdoor photos in Franklin

[caption id="attachment_211" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Kids photos in the park in Franklin, TN"]Middle Tennessee family photos[/caption]

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Nashville Brides – Looking for a website that has it all?

Nashville Bride's Online Resource!

Nashville Bride's Online Resource!

Nashville brides – Ashley’s Bride Guide is a great resource for Middle Tennessee brides. Looking for a caterer, venue, church, flowers, or style guide? Look no further! This great website had all the info you need in a fun, hip style!

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Someday I want to shoot a wedding like this!

A friend of mine just posted this on Facebook and I had to share it with all of you – what a fun wedding, I would have loved to have been there!

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Jennifer and Zac’s Wedding at Lillie Belle’s in Franklin

When Jennifer first contacted me last fall about shooting their wedding and I gave her directions to meet at the studio we found out that they lived only about 5 houses down the street from us! What a coincidence! Lillie Belle’s in Franklin is a beautiful venue and the rainy day cleared up for us just long enough for a perfect ceremony and reception.

Franklin wedding photographer at Lillie Belle's

Franklin wedding photographer at Lillie Belle's

[caption id="attachment_190" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Downtown Franklin Wedding"]Downtown Franklin Wedding[/caption]
Creative Non-Traditional Wedding in Franklin

Creative Non-Traditional Wedding in Franklin

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Ryan and Kelly’s wedding at the Belle Meade Plantation

With my busiest wedding season ever and a wedding almost every weekend I am sorely behind in posting photos and updates! Here’s hoping I can start catching up on giving you a glimpse into the love and lives of some of the wonderful couples that I am privileged to spend time with on one of the best days of their lives.

Ryan and Kelly had the perfect day for the perfect wedding! I met this couple last fall and spent a fun fall afternoon shooting their engagement photos. One of my favorite parts of shooting weddings is how much time I get to spend with couples before their special day from pre-wedding meetings to engagement shoots and photo coverage planning sessions. By the time the wedding day comes I feel like I have gotten a glimpse into the personalities and styles of the bride and groom and how to better capture their story on their day.

The Belle Meade Plantation just a few miles outside of Nashville, Tennessee is definitely joining my short list of favorite Middle Tennessee wedding locations. The mansion was built in 1853 and is located on 30 acres of beautiful historic grounds. The reception took place in the Carriage House and the staff couldn’t have been more pleasant and easy to work with.

The very best to you both!

Wedding photos at the Belle Meade Plantation

Wedding photos at the Belle Meade Plantation

[caption id="attachment_184" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Wedding photographer in Belle Meade, TN"]Wedding photographer in Belle Meade, TN[/caption]
Wedding photography at a historic location in Nashville

Wedding photography at a historic location in Nashville

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